Social Commentaries
A Prophesie when Asses shall grow Elephants
From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 1
1 WHen making harmful gunnes, vnfruitfull glasses,
Shall quite consume our stately Oakes to ashes:
2 When Law fils all the land with blots and dashes,
3 When land long quiet, held concealed, passes.
4 When warre and truce playes passes and repasses,
5 When Monopolies are giu'n of toyes and trashes:
6 When courtiers mar good clothes, with cuts & slashes,
7 Whe Lads shal think it free to ly with Lasses,
8 Whē clergy romes to buy, sell, none abashes,
9 Whē fowle skins are made fair with new found washes,
10 Whē prints are set on work, with Greens & Nashes,
11 When Lechers learn to stir vp Lust with lashes,
When plainnesse vanishes, vainenesse surpasses,
Some shal grow Elephants, were knowne but Asses.
Codex Note
Book 1, Epigram 83
Cite this poem
MLA
Harington, John. “A Prophesie when Asses shall grow Elephants.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/59/.
Chicago
Harington, John. “A Prophesie when Asses shall grow Elephants.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/59/.
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